Carton filling machine



April 24, 1934.

R. A. JONES CARTON FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 24, 1934- R. A. JONES 1,956,531

CARTON FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1931 7 Sheets-Shea; 2

INVENTOR ATTORN EYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1931 ATTORNEYS April 24, 1934- R. A. JONES 1,956,531

CARTON FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1931 7 Sheets-Shea; 2

INVENTOR ATTORN EYS April 24, 1934. R. A. JONES CARTON FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1931 'T Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR W K W ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON FILLING DIACHINE Application mam 25,

llclaims.

This invention relates to machinery for rapidly setting up, loading, and closing successive cartons and particularly relates to a machine capable of filling cartons of that type including closing flaps which incorporate what is known in the trade as lock flaps, wherein no adhesive or special sealing means is needed to hold the flaps in closed position, by virtue of the interlocking arrangement of the flaps.

The cartons referred to preferably include duplicate closing means at the respective ends, and are furnished for supply to the machine in knock-down or flat stacked condition. Each end closure means, described as related to the machine when fed therethrough, includes side flaps, a top flap, and a bottom flap. The side flaps are plain, whereas, the lower flap includes slots which are complementary to tucking wings or ears formed on the upper flap, the ears being inserted laterally and away from each other into the placed slots at the lower flap, by initially bending the wings or ears relative to the main portion of the upper flap, and thereupon exerting final inward flap closing force to the upper flap.

The machine for operating on the box or carton of the above described nature has an intermittent motion for feeding the cartons successively from set-rip position to'closing position, including intermediate stops or positions at which various novel functions are performed.

It is the object of this invention to provide a machine, including mechanisms for accomplishing the ensuing operations on successive cartons for the broad ultimate purposes of filling and closing the cartons; initiallysetting up and squaring the cartons and at the same time disposing the flaps thereof for a guided feed through the machine to the point at which the flaps are closed; guiding the flaps as the cartons are transported through the machine to a position of pause in the movement of the cartons; outwardly spreading and holding the side flaps in position for clearing the end of the carton as the article is inserted; flexing the lower flap at the point of the slits to positively open the slits for insuring relative to the major portion of the upper flap inthe adjacent slits of the lower fl directing the wings into the slits; imparting 1931, Serial No. 518,158

a final closing force to the upper flap for spreading the wings thereof through the slits and fully closing the flaps with the upper and lower flaps interlocked; and finally transporting the closed cartons beyond the closing station for discharge from the machine.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved carton filling machine, certainofthe parts of the upper structure of the machine being broken away for more fully illustrating the mechanisms disposed along the path of travel of-the cartons. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1, illustrating cartons in the successive positions of travel in the machine, and the various mechanisms operative on the cartons at the respective positions.

Figure 3 is asectional view taken on line 33,

Figure 1, illustrating the machine at the flap tuck- Figure 5 is a fragmentary fore-shortened view illustrating the squaring device, the transport device, the side flap tucking device, and the respective operating instrumentalities for these devices. 1

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 1, illustrating the machine at the point at which the cartons are loaded.

Figure 7 is a'sectional view taken on line 'I--'l,- Figure 6, detailing the mechanisms at the point of article insertion. v

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 3-8, Figure I.- p

'Figure 9 is a detailed fragmentary view illustrating the slot breaking and flapflexing device in position operating on the carton.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken'on line 101'0, Figure 2, illustrating the lock flap insertion device in position of operation for insertlng the flaps. Y

Figure 11 is a view taken similar to-Fkure 10, but showing the flaps of the carton entirely closed and interlocked. 1

- Figure 12. is a perspective view of the box or carton operated on by the machine of this inits peculiar closure means, is known in the trade as a lock flap carton. The box structure includes the walls 20, which when set up are disposed in rectangular arrangement or squared, the box in the present instance having considerable length. Each wall 20 of the box includes a flap at each end. Two of the flaps at each end are plain and for the purpose of the description these plain flaps will be known as side flaps 21. They are the first to be swung in or closed upon the end of the carton during the closing operations.

The lower flap 22, as it will be known, due to its position during carton movement through the machine, includes slits 23 whereas the upper flap 24 includes lock flaps or wings 25 adapted for insertion into the slits 23 of the lower flap. For the provision of the insert slits the flap 22 is slitted at each side thereof, the major portions of the slits extending very slightly angularly relative to the side edges of the flap and converging toward the end edge of the flap. At the forward ends of these major portions the slits are turned inwardly toward each other for a short distance for the purpose of permitting a slight flexing of the flap wall about the slits and ready insertion of the tucking flaps through the slits.

The lock flaps 25 formed on the upper flap are in the nature of oppositely and laterally extended ears of a semicircular contour and are suiiiciently extended from the body of the flap for permitting free flexing and insertion thereof in the slits after the lower flap 22 has been swung upwardly against the infolded plain flaps 21 and as the upper flap 24 is swung down in the final closing operation.

The cartons are supplied in knocked-down position wherein they are totally collapsed with two walls, one of which may be referred to as the top wall 20 superposed upon the other two walls, one of which latter walls may be described as the bottom wall 20. As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the lock flaps which extend from the top wall are on top and regarding the advance of the carton from the magazine, an upwardly disposed side wall precedes the top wall'20 In the progress .of the carton through the machine, the slits are opened prior to the tucking ings for ease in the subsequent operation of tucking the lock flaps therein since the cartons as furnished by the manufacturer are stiff and the cuts or s1 are sometimes not complete and the material omewhat inflexible.

Referring to the machine, the track or channel through which the carton is moved during the squaring, opening, filling and closing operations is defined by top and bottom rails extending in parallelism through the machine. These rails are spaced and arranged to provide ample working clearance for the various mechanisms operating on the carton from above and below during its travel. The vertical distance between the top and bottom rails is substantially the thickness of the set-up ox or the height of the box when the box is r garded in its position as fed through the machine. The squared carton is fed with its length disposed transversely to and between the upper and lower rails.

There are three bottom rails 26 for the track, these. rails being spaced apart to provide clearance from the underside of the machine whereby the transport mechanism and supporting and squaring mechanisms are free to operate -upwardly into the channel. The intermediate rail 26 is slotted from the intake end of the ma chine to clear for a series of limit or abutment devices which aid in controlling the feed and squaring of the carton for its successive pauses throughout its travel. These lower rails may be supported, in any fashion, up cross rails of the frame 27 of the machine. The top rails 28 are bolted to the lower ends of suspended parts 29 of the frame. Toward the intake end of the machine as illustrated in Figure 2, the rear wall 30 of the carton magazine is shown. The entire magazine is not shown since the present invention is only concerned with the mechanisms operating on the carton after it has been delivered from the magazine. The rear wall of the magazine extends down below the upper rails, the upper rails terminating substantially against this rear magazine wall. The magazine wall has its extreme lower edge 31 disposed slightly above the lower rails, the distance between wall edge and rails being suiiicient to permit passage of a single carton at a time, in its flat or knockeddown position, as delivered from the magazine.

The magazine delivery means (not shown) reciprocates horizontally beneath the magazine and longitudinally of the rails to deliver the carton in the position shown in Figure 2, wherein the carton has its forward edge just outside or clear of the rear wall 30. In this position of the carton, before it is initially 'fed or moved by the transport means of the machine, three movements or devices act upon the flat carton for squaring the same between the rails.

One of the movements active at this position is a spear 32 mounted on the inner end of a laterally moving slide 33 supported in the frame. This spear consists of a body or ar extension supporting aspear head element which is tapered to an extremely sharp point for readily entering the carton between its upper and lower flaps. The spear passes well into the carton in its reciprocation and initially spreads the carton walls for the subsequent squaring action thereon for insuring the effectiveness of the subsequent cooperating mechanism' directly operative for squaring the carton.

The movement for the purpose of squaring the carton is in the form of a vertically moved plate 35, which plate has a curved upper end 36 extending to a horizontal plane toward the intake end of the machine, the face of the vertical portion of the plate being on a line substantially aligned with the line of carton fold between the bottom and the particular side. This plate or initial squaring device maybe actuated by any suitable means, synchronized with the various other mechanisms of the machine, the means not being shown since it is entirely conventional.

Just prior to the start of upward movement of the opening device, another vertically reciprocating movement acts upon the flaps of the carton for a particular guiding purpose. This latter device consists of a vertic 1y guided slide 37 carrying a foot element 38 and he foot 38 having a downwardly extending pin or stud 39 mounted at one enckor that end opposite the end of the carton into which the article is inserted, and aly disposed side flaps 21 andthebottom flaps 22.

of the carton bending the same slightly down below the plane of the lower rails for reasons of I squared pofltion,

.iilandnagainstacon' itisactedonby and the plate, whe

guidance which will be more fully apparent hereafter. a

The slide 3'! carrying the foot 38 is reciprocated (see Figure 6)' by means of a cam 41 mounted on the overhead power shaft 42 and actuatin a swingin lever 43. The lever is mounted at one end on a rock shaft 44 ing end flexibly connected to the slide 3'! by means of a connecting rod 43*, the connection to the slide being by means of a wrist pin 45 extending from the slide. The connection between the lever and cam includes a roller 46 on the lever engaged in the cam groove.

As the carton opening device 36 starts its upward-travel, the stud 39 and 'plate 40 are raised relieving the flaps, more particularly the side flaps, and the carton side walls and top wall are swung on the stationary base. the base being held down against the lower rails by means of the spear previously described, which spear is not extracted until the carton is fully opened or squared. (Before the carton is swung into its thestud 39andplate40are lowered and the flaps 21 and 23 are engaged and depressed to dispose the same below lower flap guiding rails 47 for subsequent guided feed of the flaps 23, see Figure 2:)

To prevent displacement of the flat carton as the spear, an abutment rail 48 is along the side of the track opposite to thatatwhichthespearenters. Thisrailis formed of angle iron provi a vertical. abutv ment wall, the ends of the flaps at this side being initially delivered onto the vertical flange of the angle iron through which flange the rail is attached to the frame of the machine.

The plate40 is ured to the end of the foot 38 and extends downwardly and finally inwardly in a plane just above the horizontal flange of the angle iron abutment rail 48. The lower end 49 of this plate constituted by the horizontal exnsionoftheplateengagesthesuperposedflaps uation plate 50 at the endoftherail48. Boththeplatewandthe stud -89 are disposed well out toward the ends oftheflapssothatasthesquaringdevicesare active'and the sides of the carton are swung relative to the base or bottom wall, the forwardly advanced side wall fla 21 fleiand passby the stud the bottom flaps which contain the slits are held down imder the ends of the lower rails 47 for purposes of guidance pending further movement of the carton.

There is an upturned lip 51 formed at the ends ofthelowergulderails4'1towardthemagazine ateachsideofthemachihe,whichlips5lextendover the'lower flaps during thatportion cartontravelfromthepointofthesquaringactionthroughtheflllingstation. Whenthevertifootcarryingtheplateand studactsupontheflapsofthecartonasthecartonisbemgejectedfromthethereelements force the flapsbelowtherespectlvelipsandupon retractionofthisdevlce. theflapsarethuscaughtandproperly forrutureiravelbeneaththelongitudinallydisposednlatei. Likewise,itis 9;: m orsustaintheupperortabflapsduringsuhaetraveland'forthisreasonupperflapsimportrflls52areextendedalongthelineoftravel ofthecartonmiperflapsateachsideofthemarails havedownwardly and has its outer swing-' connection,

slightly spread from normalw extended position to facilitate insertion of the article, as a bottle in the present instance, and for other reasons more fully apparent in the description of the d11- ingposition'of the carton.

Throughout the travel of the squared box or carton and its successive pauses, various component are eflective for stabilizing the cartonandflrmlymaintainingitinitssquared position as well as for definitely stopping it at the desired positions. As one device of this general mechanism, a seriesof simultaneously operated limit dogs 54 is pivoted on crow pins 55 within a slot 56 in the intermediate lower rail. These dogs include upwardextensions squared toward the intake end of the machine for engagement by the forward lower edge of the boxes as they are successively moved through the machine. There is a dog 54 for each position of pause of the cartons and they are simultaneously operated by a connecting bar 5'! (see Figure 5) extended along beneath the rail and pivoted to each dog below its pivotal mounting. At the discharge end of the machine, a power driven cross shaft 58 is mounted,thisshaft carryineacam 59operatingapivoted lever 60 through the-usual groove and roller t upp swin 60 being pivotally connected to the forward end ofthehar57bymeansofalink6l.

Reciprocation of the barv 57 toward the intake end of the machine lowers the abutment extensionsofthedogsbelowthelevelofthetrackor channel floor, this action occurring onLv for a short period when the transport of the machine is active for transferring the cartons from one position to another. l

In the present instance, there-are three dogs, totakecareofcartonsquaringptasitiomearton filling position, and carton closing posi n. Therefore, as the cartonis initially set up by e action of the reciprocating device, one of these dogsengagestheforwardedgeoftheflat carton to prevent forward displacement under the forces imparted by the opening The foregoing completes positionandthemechanismofthemachinenow actstomovethecartonfromthispositiontothe flllingposition. Themechanism forthispurpose,

atransport,hasadeilnite- Thepairofslidingrodsuisusedinpreference wasinglerodforthepurpoaeofstahilizingcarriage movement and preventing rotative movement of the carriage. 1

endofthislever .moved upwardly, causing the side ra a The vertical movement isimparted to the carriage by means of a lever 65 extending under the machine from one side thereof. The means for swinging the lever is not shown. The swinging end of the lever 65 is connected to a boss 66 extending laterally from the carriage element by means of a link 67 having its ends pivotally connected to the lug or boss and the lever 65 respectively. The carriage supports parallel slide rods 68 disposed side by side in a horizontal plane directly beneath the track or channel through which the cartons are fed and in parallelism therewith. A

The transport element 69 is slidably mounted on these rods by means of slide bearing lugs 70, one at each end thereof. The transport has vertically disposed box engaging side rails 71 mounted thereon by means of brackets 71', these rails or side plates extending upwardly and adapted to move within the longitudinal slots formed by the three rails of the bottom forming the channel which guides the boxes through the machine.

Movement is imparted to the transport for sliding the same on the horizontal rails by means of a lever 72 (see Figure 5) pivoted on a rock shaft '13 at the end of the machine and actuated by means of a cam 74 having a groove engaging a roller 75 on the lever, the groove being of a contour for accomplishing the movement stated and the upper end of the lever connected to the transport by means of a connecting rod 76 pivotally attached at its ends to a lug 77 on the end of the transport and the upper or swinging end of the lever 72 respectively.

The side rails 71 are notched so as to fit about the box and include particularly high extensions 78 for engaging the sides of the boxes during feed thereof. The extensions 7870f the side rails 71 have inwardly turned flanges, 78 on their vertical edges presenting plane surfaces of considerable area for engaging the cartons during feed. I The transportis lowered after carton feed by means of the vertically operating means and is then moved forwardly to a position under the next set-up box, in its initial position after delivery from the ,magazine from whence it is s to engage about the box toward the ends thereof.

, With the carriage fully elevated, the horizontalmovement is retracted for drawing the box 7 along between the rails, moving the same to a position of pause at the loading station. It'will be understood that the side rails include duplicate notches or extensions for simultaneously engaging successive boxes passing through the machine. that is to say, as a box is engaged. as initially set up, the box which has been loaded and the box which has had its flaps tucked are also engaged and simultaneously moved by the same feeding movement of the transport to their re-' spective succeeding positions. I

A The second position of pause or dwell for the successive cartons will be known generally as the However, besides the loading mechanism, another mechanism operates on the carton at this station for definitely opening or cracking the slits in the flaps of the carton whereby ease of lock flap insertion is assured.

The mechanisms for supporting the articles to be.inserted and feeding the same to position'of alignment for insertion in the cartons are not disclosed.

The form of mechanism usedfor pushing the bottles into the cartons is not fully disclosed since it forms no part of this invention. As a convenat the time "definitely kept clear of tional'means, a ing the rear end of the bottom of the bottle and this slide reciprocated by any, suitable mechanism When the carton is brought to the loading station, the upper flaps 24 are supported on the rails 52. Describing the mechanism at the filling side of the machine, the rail 52 is mounted on spaced elements 80. These elements 80 are the side rail element 52 is the top of a through which the bottle is encarton. These side elements 80 are supported on a base plate 82, the inner portion of which constitutes the guide rail 47. The plate 82 is mounted on the frame by means of a bracket 83. The mouthpiece or guide'tube 81 thus formed is square in cross section and the carton is disposed, when the transport pauses, igexact alignment with this mouthpiece. It will a o be understood that the lower flap of the carton is engaged beneath the inner edge or guide rail portion 47 of the base element, the flap having been thus disposed and guided by the arrangement previously described. The inner end of this base element is marginally tapered on the underside to provide an inclined portion against which the flap engages. Thus the top and bottom flaps are properly maintained clear of the path of article insertion during the loading operation.

It is also provided that the side flaps 21 are the path of movement 01' the bottle so as not to be fouled as the bottle is moved in. Themechanism accomplishing this is operated by the engagement of the bottle therewith. The mechanism includes a finger 84 at each side of the mouthpiece, which fingers are mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane. To this end they are supported on pivot brackets 85 attached to the outersurfaces of the side walls of the mouthpiece and extend into the interior thereof through slots 86 in the walls.

The/fingers are urged into aligned position across the interior of the mouthpiece and interposed in the path of movement of the bottle by means of tension springs 87 attached to the outer ends of the fingers beyond the pivots and to attaching elements 88 on the frame work.

The slots terminate at points 89 which serve as abutments, against which abutments the fingers are urged by means of the springs to definitely aligned position within the mouthpiece. As the bottle is inserted, it engages these fingers simultaneously and swings the same from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 1, whereby the fingers engage and spread the respective side flaps of the carton and are held in fully spread position by the bottle interposed therebetween until it passes beyond the tips of the fingers whereupon the movement of the bottle beyond the tips of these fingers releases the same and permits them to be returned by the springs to normal positions within the mouthpiece.

A movable stop or abutment 90 is provided at the end of the carton opposite to that in which the bottle is inserted, this abutment being formed on the end of an angulararm 91 which is formed integrally with the spear element 32 and therefore actuated by means of the same slide which actuates the spear. The abutment moves lonmouthpiece 81 tered into the gitudinally of the box and pauses relative to the slide 79 may be provided engag inserted is thus definitely I lower flaps of the carton at each end thereof for the purpose of definitely cracking and opening the slits. One of these devices, as detailed in Figure 9, is shown inposition of operation. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, these devices are operated from below the carton track.

. As has been previously described, there are two slits in each bottom flap and for this reason each device 92 at the respective ends of the carton includes a pair of spears 93 of the following construction and mounting. A:rod 94, for each pair of spears, is vertically slidably mounted in brackets 95. A spear support 97 is attached to the upper end of each vertically movable rod 94 and a inclined relative to the yoke element 98 is attached to the respective lower ends of the slide rods. Each spear 93 consists of a stud 99 bolted to the spear attachment element and rising therefrom, and a,plate 100 secured to the stud. The plate on each stud is longitudinal extent of the box or'carton and is disposed parallel with the long portion of the particular slit in the boxv for engaging the material of the box just inside the slit, (see Figures 9 and 12).

These plates are attached to the outer sides of the studs and each stud has its upper surface inclined abruptly downwardly, as at 101, in order not to interfere with the action of the plate as its upper edge engages the material of the carton flap. The studs are held in position on laterally extending wings of the attaching, element by mean of nuts 102 engaging the screwthreaded lower ends thereof.

As has been previously stated, the lower flaps of the carton are disposed beneath the inner ends of guide plates 47-47. The guide plate 47 at the end of the carton, opposite to the end into which the article is inserted, is bolted on top of the bracket which supports the vertically slidable rod 94 at that end of the carton. The lower marginal edges of the guide plates 47 are inclined for engagement by the flaps and are provided with slots 103 adjacent which slots the slits of the carton are disposed when the carton is disposed at this point. The slots 103 appear in Figure 1. The lower aps lie against the undersides of the guide plates 47 and over the slots at the time the spears engage the flaps for breaking or cracking the slits.

The necessary vertical niovement is imparted to the spear devices by means of a cam 104 mounted on a drive shaft 1% supported at the lower portion of the machine and a bell crank lever 106 pivoted on a rock shaft 1063 journalled on the frame of the machine on a bracket 107 and including a roller 108 on one arm 109 engaged in the cam groove and a link 110 pivotally connected to the end of the other arm and to an intermediate point of the yoke element 98 operatively connecting the slide rods.

The link 110 incorporates safety means for constituting the connection between the yoke and the operating lever, a yieldable one, in the event that spear movement is interfered with. To this end, a pin 111 extending from the intermediate portion of the yoke rotatively supports a rod 112 extending through the head 113 thereof. A block 114 is slidably mounted on the rod and is rotatively mounted by means of a stud 115 thereof in the end of the operating lever. A spring 116 is disposed under compression between the head of the rod and the block 114. Obstruction to movement of the spears is effective for compressing the compression spring 116 in the yieldable link.

, A nut 116 screwed on the rod 112 below the block 114 prevents disconnection of the yoke and lever on the retractive stroke.

Therefore, as the carton pauses or dwells in the loading position or station, these spear elements are moved upwardly and engage the material of the flap adjacent the slits and substantially within the confines of the area defined by the annularly related portions of the slit flexing this material into the slots 103 and thereby definitely opening the slits for subsequent closing and tuck ing operations. The action of the spear devices is illustrated in Figure 9, this view depicting the spears in upper position whereby the material is flexed into the clearance slots 103.

The machineincludes a mechanism for stabilizing the boxes in=their squaredcondition at the time of loading and tucking. This mechanism is means of a link 122 to the upp r end of the slide 117. The cam acts to reciprocate the slide at predetermined times as will be apparent.

A foot piece 123 is attached to the lower end of the slide and extends longitudinally of and horizontally above the path of movement of the boxes. A plurality of cross pieces 124 are attached. to the foot piece, each cross piece supporting vertically mounted and downwardly disposed pins 125 at their respective ends. The pins 125 on the first two cross pieces are mounted so as to snugly straddle each box as it pauses at loading position and the mechanism descends.

The two pins at each side of the box engage the respective sides of the ,box and have their lower ends rounded as at 126 (see Figure 2) on the inner side so as to cam the box into squared position in case it is not fully squared when the pins descend. The other two pins on the last cross member engage the adjacent side of each box as it pauses at the next position which is the tucking station and thereby aid in stabilizing and firmly holding the box in position during the tucking operation.

The cam movement actuating the squaring or stabilizing pins 125 acts to lower the pins and to hold the same in position during the time in which a box is actually being filled concurrently with the time when a box is being closed. The reciprocal movement of the pins lifts them entirely clear of'the channel through which the boxes are moved in order that there is .no interference with free travel of the boxes when they are acted upon by the transport.

During the time that the boxes are being moved from the (loading station to the flap tucking and locking station, the side flaps are moved into their infolded or closed position in which they are disposed when the lower and upper flaps are locked together. These side flaps, which are disposed forwardly as regards the path of travel of the box, engage res ctive stationary cam elements 127 mounted 'termediate the loading and flap .tucking or closing station. These cams are from compressed by plates formed to provide an inner curved wall 128, the curve of which is generated a cross plane inwardly. and toward the discharge end of the machine to a plane identical with that of the respective ends of the body of each box as it passes between the adjacently disposed cam elements. These elements are fixed to the frame work of the machine by means of bracket portions 129.

The upper guide rail which supports the upper flap, at the opposite end of the box from that filled, is mounted on the particular cam element at the side mentioned (see Figure 2). The cam surfaces described are spaced apart at their closest points-a distance very slightly greater than the length of the closed box. Prior to the time that the box passes between these cam surfaces, the side fiaps toward the magazine end of the machine are moved inwardly to infolded position so that the forwardly disposed side flaps will slightly overlap the rearwardly disposed flaps as shown in Figure 5 and thereby hold the same in position.

The movement which accomplishes this operation is mounted on the carriage 62 of the transport. For this purpose, the transport carriage includes a boss 130 transversely disposed relative to the track, in which boss a pivot or rock shaft 131 is mounted, extending from each end thereof. A lever 132 is affixed to each end of the shaft, each lever having its upper end swinging in a path substantially flush with the end of the closed box. The levers are swung on a pivot shaft by means of a cam 133 mounted on the power shaft 58 and having its groove engaging a roller 134 intermediately mounted on a lever 134 pivoted on the rock shaft 73 and having its upper end flexibly connected to one of the levers 132 by means of a link rod 135.

When the transport carriage has been moved forwardly and upwardly for engaging and feeding the boxes, the levers including their pivotal mounting are moved upwardly at the same time and are disposed in position for swinging movement effective for closing the flaps. As /the transport is being acted upon for moving the cartonsfithe levers are swung forwardly rapidly and act on the side flaps of the moving cartons (see The levers are notched as at 136 so as to clear the lower flaps of the cartons at the time when the stroke has been completed and the side flaps fully closed.

When the transport mechanism has acted to place the box at the closing station, there are three movements effective for acting on the box at this time for the p rpose of folding and locking the upper and lower flaps together at each end of the box. The elements 127, which close the forwardly disposed side flaps and overlap the same on theother side flaps, are extended through the fiap closing station and are notched as at 127' to clear the flap interlocking move- .ments, the upper and lower flaps being folded over the extensions (see Figures 7, 10 and 11) and the cartons ultimately drawn oil the ends of the extensions.

An anvil and lower flap closing device is moved upwardly to infold the lower flap which contains the slits. An upper flap folding device then engages the upper fiap and win s the same downwardly against the anvil, pausing momentarily to permit a lock flap directing device to fold the lock tabs or flaps over the anvil and direct the same into the slots, the latter device pausing at this point while the upper fiap folding device continues its inward swing for completely interlocking the upper and lower flaps as shown in Figure 11.

The anvils or lower flap folding elements 137 (see Figure 4) are identical for each end of the box and are mounted on the upper ends of slide rods 138 disposed in support brackets 139 at tached to'the frame. The lower ends of the slide rods are fixed in the respective ends of a yoke element 140. The yoke element 140 is connected to an actuating means for raising and lowering the anvils, consisting of a cam 141 fixed on the lower power shaft 105 and engaging a roller 142 on an arm 143 of a bell crank lever 144 fulcrumed on the rock shaft 106' and having its other arm connected to the central portion of the yoke by means of a link 144 The anvil elements 137 mounted on the slide rods include inclined outer faces 145 which are positioned, when the anvil elements are at up- Ward limit of stroke, to receive the upper flaps in partially closed position. The anvils are of a width (see Figure 10) corresponding to the width of the body of the upper flap so that the tuck or lock flaps or tabs can be folded over the side edges of the anvil. The anvil has its upper edge rounded from the rear wall thereof to the inclined forward face as at 146 for theipll pose of a smooth engagement with the lower flap and cam- 105 ming thereof into fully closed sition. The rear face of the anvil and the slide rod are contiguous and this face is disposed in aplane substantially identical with that of the outer face of the lower flap when it is closed. 11

The upper flap folding devices consist of bell crank levers 147 (see Figure 3) fulcrumed on the respective ends of a cross rail 148 hung by means of brackets 149 from the longitudinal rail 118 of the machine. An arm 150 crank lever is connected to a common operating lever 153 by means of a connecting rod 152. These connecting rods are pivotally connected at their respective ends and the operative lever is fulcrumedon the rock shaft 44 at the top of 120 the machine and includes a roller 151 mounted thereon between the connecting rod pivots. This roller is engaged by a cam 154 fixed to the upper power shaft 42.

Each bell crank lever includes an am 155 carrying a blade 156 on its underside. the blade adapted to flatly e age the upper flap of the box at the particular end and swing the same downwardly against the anvil, the blade same'plane as the incline of the anvil and thereafter swingbeing engaged by a cam 165 mounted on the upper power shaft 42. The cam is formecp for simultaneously the arms 157 relative to the flaps of the box. 150

A lever 161 is fixed on each The arms include inwardly turned side flanges 166, the side flanges providing forward edges 16'? inclined to engage the lock or tuck flaps of the upper flaps when the upper fiaps are engaged against the anvil. The engagement of these fiaps by means of the side flanges of the arms, swings the lock fiaps inwardly and their rounded edges 168 are disposed in front of the slots and directed thereinto. Continued movement of the upper flap folding devices at this time moves the lock or tuck flaps into the slits and we interlocking of the upper and lower flaps is accomplished under full swing of the upper flap closing levers, the anvils being retracted just after the lock flaps have been tm'ned in and started.-

After these operations have been performed on the box at the flap tucking and interlocking station, the transport is again effective for engaging the box and feeding it beyond this station, whereupon it is ultimately discharged from the machine. v

The mechanisms of this machine, therefore, by means of the various described mechanisms, operate on the cartons successively as they are transported between the guideways. The transport is effective for moving each carton through three stations, pausing at each, namely a carton.

opening and squaring position, a carton filling and slit-opening station, and a flap folding and locking or carton closing station.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a carton filling machine for filling cartons of the type having end closure means consisting of a first flap having slits therein, and second flap having lateral lock tabs adapted to be inserted in the slits of the first flap when the flaps are closed; comprising, means for supporting a carton, a reciprocating anvil engaging the first flap and closing the same, a closing device engaging the second fiap and. swinging the same against the anvil, said anvil and second flap closing device engaging the major portion of the second flap whereby the lock tabs extend beyond the sldes thereof, a lock tab directing device adapted to bend the lock tabs over the edges of the anvil and into the slits, and means for operating the parts in synchronism whereby after the anvil is reciprocated the second flap closing device continues to close the second flap and interlocks the flaps.

2. In a carton filling machine for operating on cartons of the type including interlocking fiaps having lock tabs interfitting in slits, comprising, an anvil reciprocable for engaging and infolding the slit containing flap, said anvil including an inclined outer face, a lever having a plate engaging the fiap having the lock tabs for disposing the said flap against the inclined face of the anvil, an arm including flanges for engaging the lock tabs and folding the said lock flaps over the edges of the anvil into positionbefore the slits, and synchronized power means for operating the respective parts to cause the reciprocation of the anvil after the lock tabs have been properly directed and to cause a continuance of movement of the flap closing lever for fully closing the engaged flap and interlocking the fiaps.

3. In a machine of the class described, a guideway comprising upper and lower rails, means for feeding a carton along the guideway transversely thereto, support rails maintaining upper and lower flaps of the respective ends of the carton in spread condition, said upper and lower carton flaps including slits, lock tabs and slits respectively, and a slit cracking device operating relative to the lower guide rail for definitely crack:- ing the slits at one position of carton pause during its feed along the guideway.

4. In a machine of the class described, a support, rails maintaining the upper and lower flaps at the respective ends of the carton in spread position relative to the carton ends, said upper and lower carton flaps including lock tabs and slits respectively, and a slit cracking device operating relative to the rail, supporting the lower flap, for entering the slits.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting an end opening carton in horizontal position, said carton including upper, lower, and side fiaps,means for moving said carton sideways, rails disposed parallel with the movement of said carton for maintaining the upper and lower flaps in spread position to clear the entrance into the carton, a mouthpiece disposed adjacent the open end of the carton and in alignment therewith, means for inserting an article in the carton, and a pair of fingers disposed across the mouthpiece and pivotally mounted for lateral swing, whereby the article to be inserted engages said fingers and swings the same against the side fiaps of the carton for spreading the same and clearing the opening for insertion of the article.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting an end opening carton in hori- "zontal position, said carton including upper. lower,.and side fiaps, means for moving said carton sideways, rails disposed parallel with the movement of said carton for maintaining the upper and lower flaps in spread position to clear the entrance into the carton, means for inserting an article in the carton, and a pair of pivotally mounted fingers disposed across the entrance to the carton, whereby the article to be inserted engages said fingers and swings the same against the side flaps of the carton for spreading the same and clearing the opening for insertion of the article! '7. In a machine of the class described for closing a carton of the type having slits in one flap adapted to receive the lock tabs of another flap; a support for the carton, a rail engaging the slit containing flap, and a reciprocating device including elements engaging the fiap adjacent the slits for flexing the material of the flap and definitely opening the slits, said rail cut away adjacent the slits for permitting said flexing.

8. In a machine of the class described for operating on cartons of the type having interlocking flaps including slits and lock tabs respectively,

means for supporting the carton, a rail engaging the slit containing flap, a reciprocating device moving relative to the rail at the side against which the flap is disposed, said rail having portions thereof cut away adjacent the slits and said reciprocating device including spear elements adapted to engage the flapadjacent the slits thereof for flexing the material of the flap into the cut away portions of the rail for definitely opening the slits.

9. In a carton filling maclfine of the class described. a guideway, a transport mechanism operating relative to the guideway for intermittently feeding a carton along said guideway, a guldeway for guiding and supporting the end closure flaps of the carton, means adjacent the guideway at one position of pause of the carton for openflaps and inserting the lock tabs of another flap oi the carton into the slits.

10. In a machine of the class described, a support for a knock-down carton, including upper and lower rails, an insertive means operating endwise to the carton and adapted to enter between the top and bottom walls of the carton for initially spreading and opening the carton and holding the base wall down on the lower rail, a reciprocating arm engaging one side of the carton for swinging the top and sides relative to the base of the carton for squaring the same between said rails, upper and lower flap support rails for respectively supporting the upper and lower flaps of the carton in slightly spread con- RUEL ANDERSON JONES. 

